And measure



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

B. J. M. BECKER.

GRAIN SGALES AND MEASURE.

Patented Mar. 12, 1889.

N. PETERS, PhomLnhu u her. Washington. D. C.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

' E. J. M. BECKER.

GRAIN SOALES AND MEASURE. N0. 399,473.v Patented Mar. 12, 1889.

N. PETERS, PhowLiiho m' lm. wasmn wn. D.c.

E. JOllN M. BECKER,

ATENT OF NEl v YORK, N. Y.

GRAlN SCALE AND MEASURE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 399,473, dated March 12, 1889.

Application filed August 6, 1885. Serial No. 173,797. (No model.)

To (z ZZ whon'z/ it may concern:

Be it known that I, E. JOHN M. BECKER, re siding in the city of New York, in the State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Grain Scales and Measures, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accom ianying drawings in two sheets, making a part of this specification.

My invention relates to that class of automatic grain scales and measures in which the material to be weighed or measured is received into an oscillating vessel arranged to turn when filled with the determined amount of grain; and it consists in an improved manner of suspending or supporting the oscillating vessel and holding it in an inclined position, so that it will oscillate directly when the proper. amount of grain has passed into it, and also in an improved locking device or detent which holds the vessel until it is ready to turn.

In the drawings illustrating my improvements, in which like letters indicate like parts, Figure l is a transverse vertical section of the oscillating box and frame. Fig. 2 is a view of the weighing-detent in position on the frame, showing its engagement with the oscillating box. Fig. 3 is a front view of a portion of the oscillating box and frame shown in Fig. 1. Fig. i is a view of a portion of the oscillating box and hopper, showing the mechanism for opening and closing the slides through which the grain enters the box. Fig. 5 is a transverse'vertical section of the oscillating box and frame, showing a modified construction of the locking-detent. Fig. 6 is a front view of Fig. 5.

In this class of scales the weighing or receiyingyessel or box is divided into two compartments by a vertical partition, so arranged with reference to each other that when the box is tilted or held in an inclined position one compartment is in position to be filled through the top as the other discharges through the bot-tom; and the vessel or box is supported on journals, so as to oscillate or turn in order to bring the separate compartments alternately away from and in position under the spout. The vessel or box is held in the inclined position until the determined amount or weight of grain or other material has passed into one compartment, when the pressure or weight of the grain causes the vessel to oscillate, preventing the admission of any more grain into the compartment and bringing the other compartment into connection with the spout to be tilled. It is then held in this position until the compartment has received the determined amount of grain, when the vessel oscillates back to its former position. lhe receiving-vessel thus oscillates every time a compartment has received the amount of grain or other material it is designed to measure or weigh, and at each oscillation therefore a certain definite quantity or weight of material passes through the scales and can be recorded. As will be readily understood, the correctness of the measure or weight depends upon the oscillation of the vessel. Such vessel must be held stationary until the exact determined amount of grain has passed into one of the compartments, and at that instant the vessel must oscillate, so that no more grain will be received into that compartment and the other com- 1 )art1nent will be brought under the spout.

As these scales or measures have usually been constructed the oscillating or receiving vessel is hung substantially on one end of a scale-beam, on the other end of which is the counterbalanciugweight, and is retained in the inclined position by tixed detents, which engage with suitable projections on the oscillating box. \Yhen the compartment connected with the spout has received a sufficientquantity of grain to ctmnterbalancc the weight at the other end of the scale-beam, the vessel or box balances and descends, thus moving away from the dctents which hold it in the inclined position, until, having descended so low as to clear the detents, the weight of the grain in the one compartmmit causes the box to oscillate or turn, thus allowing the latter to discharge the grain and bringing the other compartment into position to be tilled when the box has risen and is caught and held by the detents. There are thus two movements of the boxa downward and an oscillating movement-and the box must descend far enough after balancing the weight at th e oth end of the scale-beam to clear the detentsbcfore it can oscillate.

In my improved grain-scale there is but one movement of the receiving vessel 0rbox an oscillating oneand the box oscillates the moment the determined amount of grain is received in the compartment; and, moreover, the oscillation of the box is directly controlled by the weighing mechanism itself, which forms the detent.

The first part of my invention refers to the manner of supporting the oscillating box and of holding it in an inclined position.

As will be seen in the drawings, particularly in Figs. 1 and 3, the oscillating box A, which is divided into two compartments in the usual manner, is supported or rests on pivots or trunnions P in a fixed immovable frame, so that itcan oscillate or turn, but cannot have any other mot-ion. These pivots are so situated or placed on the sides of the box with respect to the size and shape of the latter that when one compartment is filled the weight of the grain or other material or its downward pressure will cause the box to turn or oscillate quickly and with sufficient force to catch on the detents, as hereinafter explained. The pivots on which the box turns may be knife-edges or round, as is found desirable. The box is held in an inclined position, so that but one compartment is in connection with the spout through which the grain enters the box, by detents arranged on the sides of the frame which support the box. These detents (shown in the drawings at E) constitute or form one end of a scale-beam or weighing mechanism, E, which is supported on a \lshaped bearing, 6, on the frame, and has on its other end a weight, TV.

In the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the detent end E of the scale-beam curves downward substantially at right angles to the beam, so that the end of the detent is below the point of support, e, of the beam. Hence when the lowest point of the detent is pushed outward the other end of the beam and the weight V is correspondingly raised. To prevent the scale-beam E being turned by the weight \V, and thus the detent E being raised out of place when out of engagement with the box, the detent is held by or rests against a pin or stop, 6, which prevents the detent being raised and holds it in position to engage with the projection on the side of the box. On the side of the box is a projection, F, so situated and arranged that when the box is tilted or inclined at the right angle to bring the upper compartment under the spout the projection on that side of the box will rest against the lowest point of the detent E, and hence hold the box in the inclined position. As long as the weight TV exceeds the pressure of the box against the end of the detent the box will be securely held and prevented from oscillating; but when a sufficient quantity of grain has passed into the upper compartment to cause the pressure of the box on the end of the detent to equal or counterbalance the weight V the end of the detent is pushed outward and the weight correspondingly raised until the projection F slides under the end of the detent, thus disengaging itself from the latter, and the box, no longer held by the detent, is free to oscillate. The end of the detent is provided with a sliding nib, c, beveled on the side farthest from the box, in order that as the box oscillates or turns the end of the projection F, striking the beveled side of the nib 6, will cause the latter to slide up as it passes under it, and thus the detent will not interfere with the free movement of the box. After the projection F has passed under the nib e the latter slides down or in position to engage with the projection and hold the box. These scalebeams and detents E E are arranged on the frame on each side of the box, and both sides of the box are provided with the projections F. Hence the box is held in either position by the detent next to the upper compartment or the one being filled, and when the box oscillates in either direction it is caught and held by the detent on that side of the frame. The weightlV is so graduated with respect to the size of the compartments of the box and the construction of the latter that when the determined quantity of grain or other material has passed into the compartment the weight of the grain will cause the box to exert a pressure on the detent equal to the weight \V, and thus raise the latter and release the catch or detent and allow the box to oscillate. The weight Y may thus be arranged to weigh any quantity of grain or other material desired.

To prevent the grain passing from the hop per L while the box is turning and before the empty compartment is in position to receive it, I provide two swinging doors, Q Q, under the spout, so arranged as to close the moment the box commences to oscillate, and open the moment the movement of the box is stopped and the empty compartment is under the spout.

As will be understood from Figs. 1 and 4, the doors Q Q. are caused to swing or open and shut by the vertical sliding rod g, arranged to move up and down in the frame by means of the pin or projection to, which slides or works in the cam r in the side of the box. The upper end of the rod or bar 9 is connected to the cross-pieces j, the other ends of which are pivoted to the sides of the doors, as at 2. The moment the box commences to oscillate the pin it, sliding in the cam 1*, draws the rod g, and consequently the doors Q Q, down, and closes the latter. The shape of the cam t is such that when the box is vertical or the partition between the compartments immediately under the spout the doors Q Q will be tightly closed. As the box continues to oscillate, the

cam r raises the rod 9 and opens the doors, so that when the box is at rest and the empty compartment under the spout the doors or slides Q Q are wide open.

At the bottom of the compartments of the box are swinging doors 2', hinged to the sides of the box at r", and arranged to open and close automatically with the movement of the box. The lower sides of the doors are con structed in an arc of a circle whose center is the point of support on which the box turns, and the doors are closed and held shut by projections '21, so arranged on each side of the frame that they will press against the doors as the box swings and close them and hold them firmly shut as the compartment is'being filled. As thus constructed and arranged, the doors cannot open until the box has turned on its pivots sufficiently to insure its oscillating the entire distance, and all danger of the grain escaping too quickly from the compartment is avoided, and the door of the empty compartment is closed at once before any grain has passed into the same. If desired, there may be an extra projection, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5, on each side of the frame, to close the doors more quickly.

The mode of operation of the scales is as follows: The receiving vessel or box A is held in an inclined position, as shown in Fig. l, with the upper compartment in connection with the spout, by the projection F on the side of the compartment being filled resting against the detent E on the same side of the frame. (Shown more fully in Fig. 2, in which only the weighing-detent E E is shown.) The grain or other material enters the compartment through the spout from the hopper L until. a sufficient quantity of the grain has been received into the compartment to cause the pressure of the box on the nib e of the detent to slightly exceed the weight \l' on the other end of the scale-beam E. The end of the detent is now forced outward, the weight 'W being correspondingly raised until the end of the projection F slides under the detent, and the box released from the detent is free to oscillate. The weight of the grain in the one compartment causes the box to turn or oscillate quickly, thus removing the compartment from connection with the spout and preventing the admission of any more grain into the filled compartment. As the box commences to turn, the swinging doors Q Q are closed under the spout and the door at the bottom of the filled.compartment drops down, thus allowing the grain to pass out as the door of the other compartment is closed by the projection u. The projection F on the other side of the box, or on the side of the empty compartment, as the box oscillates, swings into position under the detent E on the frame on the same side, and, striking the beveled side of the nib e, raises the nib and passes under and beyond it in position to en gage with and be caught by the straight side of the nib as the latter falls into its place. The box is thus caught and held in the reversed position, with the other compartment uppermost, by the detent on that side of the box, and at the same time the doors Q Q are opened by the cam r and the empty compartment brought into connection with the spout. \Vhen that is tilled with the determined quantity of grain, the detent is raised, as described, and the box, released from the latter, oscillates back to its former position, when it is caught by the detent, as before.

As will be understood from the above description, in my improved scale the box is held and its oscillations are controlled directly by the weighing mechanism, one end of which forms the detent which holds the box, and the box is released and allowed to oscillate the moment the scale-beam turns or the moment the weight of the grain in the compartment pressing on one end of the scale -beam equals or counterlmlances the pressure of the weight \V on the other end of the scalel )eam. The box thus turns the moment the desired quantity of grain has passed into the compartment, and the scale indicates the exact weight of the grain. Moreover, there is but one movement of the boxan oscillating one-and all danger of the box not descending far enough to be released from the detents, and thus receiving more grain than the determined quantity before it oscillates, is avoided.

lYith my improved scale one compartment may be iilled as the other is being emptied, and the box is always caught and locked when it has turned the proper distance.

The detent may be arranged to engage directly with the box and the projection F dispensed with. The edges of the swinging doors Q Q lap over each other, as shown in Fig. 1, when closed, and thus prevent the grain in the hopper being wedged in between the doors as they are closed.

The second part of my invention relates to a safety or locking detent placed upon the box and arranged to be operated by the side pressure or shiftiugof the grain, and designed to hold the box and prevent it oscillating until the determined quantity-of grain has passed into the compartment being filled. This safety-detent is shown in Figs. 1 and I3, and in modified constructions in Figs. 5, I and 7 of the drawings. As is there seen, this second or safety detent consists of an arm or latch, D, pivoted at one end, (1, to the frame at the side of the scales and extending in toward the oscillating vessel A. This arm D is held'iu a horizontal position and prevented from dropping, but left free to swing upward by a pin, (Z, on which it rests. The inner end of the arm D, when the vessel is tilted in being filled, rests against a projection, G, on the side of the latter, and thus holds the vessel and prevents its oscillating until the arm I) is raised, as will be understood from the drawings. To raise this arm D, a projection or arm, H, is arranged under it capable of moving upward. The projection or arm II is attached to a movable orswinging section, C, of the outer walls of the vessel A. This section 0, as is shown in the drawings, is hinged at its upper edge, P, so as to swing inward to- IIO ward the partition dividing the compartments. As the vessel A oscillates, the movable section C of the upper or empty compartment will drop or swing inward, as shown, and the arm H, attached to its upper edge, will be drawn down directly under the arm D when the latteris in a horizontal position.

In the drawings the safety-detent D is used on the box in connection with the weighingdetent EE, and the two detents are arranged to be actuated by the same quantity of grain and to move together.

As the grain passes into the compartment, the section C is pushed or forced outward and the arm H correspondingly raised, and when the compartmentis filled with a sufficient quantity of grain, which may be determined beforehand, the movable section 0 will be forced out and the arm H raised, as indicated in dotted lines, a sufficient distance to lift the arm D up away from the projection on the side of the vessel, and thus release the safetylatch. The vessel will then be held only by the weighing detent or latch E, and if the correct weight of grain has passed into the compartment this detent will be released, as before described, and the vessel will be allowed to oscillate. 011 the opposite'side of the vessel and frame are similar detents, E and D, with their accompanying parts, and movable swinging section C, Which catch and hold the vessel in its reversed position. The arrangement of the two detents is such that the moment the vessel has reached its proper position it is caught by both detents at the same time.

As will be understood from the above description, the safety-detent D is actuated by the quantity of grain that enters the compartment as distinguished from the Weight, and is operated by that port-ion of grain received into the compartment above a certain level. The section 0 and arm H form a lever turning on its fulcrum at 0. After the grain has reached a certain determined level in the compartment the quantity of grain entering the compartment above this level moves the lever C H and raises the catch or detent D.

By my improved arrangement of two detents, the weighing-detent, which is released by the weight of grain in the compartment, is prevented from acting until the safety-detent is released, and as the latter is controlled by the quantity of grain in the compartment by regulatingthe movement of the swinging section 0 of the wall of the vessel and of the arm H, and by adjusting the force necessary to raise the detent D by means of the weight shown at d, the safety-detent D can be ar ranged so as to be released when the exact or a little less than the exact weight of grain has passed into the compartment. Thus with the second or safety detent the vessel can never oscillate until the correct weight of grain has. passed into one of the compartments, and if the weight XV should be raised or removed by any accident the vessel would still be held and prevented from oscillating by the detent D, and this detent would likewise prevent the vessel being made to oscillate by any accidental weight placed on the upper compartment or by any force used to push it over. The oscillating vessel is thus held in all cases until the proper moment for it to oscillate or swing and gives the correct weight of grain or other material at each oscillation.

The safety-detent D may be used on the oscillating box by itself when it is desired merely to measure the quantity of grain or other material passing into the compartment, as by adjusting the detent so that it will be releasedwhen a given quantity of grain has passed into the compartment that quantity will be measured'at each oscillation of the vessel.

Figs. 5 and 6 show a modified form of my safety-detent, the construction and operation of which will be best understood from the drawings. Instead of the movable sections 0 of the walls of the compartments on the outside of each compartment there is a chamber, L, (shown in section in Fig. 6,) divided by a movable partition, M, which projects out side of the chamber and which is pivoted at the center, so that the part which is within swings downward and that which is without upward. Resting on the outer part, at, of the partition is a rod, R, which is attached to the frame of the scales in such a manner as to slide up and down. On the upper end of the rod is a detent or catch, 2, which is so arranged and constructed as to engage with a catch, 8, on the weighing-detent E when the partition M is horizontal, and consequently the rod R is at its lowest position, as will be seen from Fig. 5.

As the grain passes into the compartmentA some of it enters the chamber L through the opening I, which is regulated by the sliding door N. \Vhen a suflicient quantity of grain, determined beforehand, has entered the chamber L, it forces down that part of the partition M which is in the chamber, and consequently raises the outer part, m, and thereby moves the rod R upward, and as the latter moves upward the'catch t on the rod is withdrawn from the catch 5 on the detent E, and

the safety-detent is thus released and the Weighing-detent allowed to act in the manner before described.

hat is claimed is 1. In grain scales and measures having an oscillating box, a lever-detent connected with the box and adapted to be actuated by the quantity of grain received into the compartment above a determined level and arranged to engage with a catch on the frame of the box to hold the box in an inclined position, in the manner described, and for the purpose set forth.

2. In grain scales and measures having an oscillating box, a measuring-detent consisting of the lever C H, connected with the box and adapted to be actuated by the quantity of grain received into the compartment above a determined level, and the catch D, arranged to engage with and hold the box, in the manner described, and for the purpose set forth.

In grain scales and measures, an oscillating prismatic box having straight sides divided into compartments, and having at the bottom thereof doors constructed in the are of a circle whose center is the fulcrum on which the box oscillates, and operating in the manner and for the purpose set forth.

I. In grain scales and measures, the combination of the oscillating receiver A, having the groove V, with the spout L, provided with the doors Q, operated by the rod g, adapted to engage with the groove V and with the doors Q, substantially in the manner described, and for the purpose set forth.

5. .111 grain scales and measures, the combination, with the oscillating box A, supported on a fixed frame so as to turn, substantially as described, and having the projection F, of the scale-beam E, having the weight \V, and arranged to hold and release the box, sub stantially as and for the purposes set forth.

6. In grain scales and measures, the com bination, with the box A, hung on the pivots P on a fixed frame, so as to oscillate, substantially as described, and having the projection F, of the weighing-detent consisting of the scale-beam E, having the weight "W, and the detent E, provided with the nib 6, adapted. and arranged to hold and release the box, substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

7. In grain scales and measures, the combination, with the oscillating box A, provided with the projection F, and having doors on its lower end constructed in the arc of a circle whose center is the point of support of the box, of the spout L, provided with the doors Q, operated by the rod g, arranged to engage with the doors and with the groove Y on the side of the box, and of the detent consisting of the beam E, having the weight \Y, and detent E, provided with the nib e, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

8. In grain scales and measures, the combination, with the box A, hung on pivots on a fixed frame, so as to oscillate in themanner desc -ibed, and having the proj cction G, swinging section t, and arm ll, of the detent D, pivoted to the frame supporting the box, and ar ranged to engage with the projection G to hold the box, and adapted to be released from engagement by the arm ll, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

9. In grain scales and measures, the combination, with the box A, hung on pivots on a fixed frame, so as to oscillate in the manner described, and having the projections F and G, the swinging section C, and arm ll, of the detent E E, adapted to engage with the projection F, and the detent D, adapted to engage with the projection G and be released by the arm ll, substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

10. In grain scales and measures, the combination of the oscillating box A, provided with the projections F and G and 'having the lever II, and doors at its lower end constructed in the arc of a circle whose center is the point of support of the box, of the detent E E, adapted to engage with the projection F, and of the detent D, adapted to engage with the projection G and be released by the detent-lever C II, and of the spout L, provided with the doors Q, operated as described, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

Dated this 3d day of August, 18%

E. JOHN M. BECKER.

\Yitnesses:

THOMAS J. KEIGHARN, llnnnax C. KEEnLncK. 

